Choice, responsibility, and health: What role for the food movement?

https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fss2014/1002/thumbnail.jp

Cities and population health.

A majority of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2007 and cities are exerting growing influence on the health of both urban and non-urban residents. Although there long has been substantial interest in the associations between city living and health, relatively little work has tried to understand how and why cities affect population health. This reflects both the number and complexity of determinants and of the absence of a unified framework that integrates the multiple factors that influence the health of urban populations. This paper presents a conceptual framework for studying how urban living affects population health. The framework rests on the assumption that urban populations are defined by size, density, diversity, and complexity, and that health in urban populations is a function of living conditions that are in turn shaped by municipal determinants and global and national trends. The framework builds on previous urban health research and incorporates multiple determinants at different levels. It is intended to serve as a model to guide public health research and intervention

Comentário : reduzir desigualdades na obesidade da criança em países desenvolvidos : o que conhecemos? o que podemos fazer?

RESUMO - As desigualdades na obesidade infantil dentro de cada e entre os diversos países resultam da distribuição desigual dos recursos e de ambientes que previnem o ganho não saudável de peso: alimentos saudáveis, oportunidades para a prática de atividade física, cuidados de saúde primários e preventivos e proteção dos fatores de stress. Apesar de alguns países mais desenvolvidos terem recentemente conseguido diminuir o aumento da obesidade nas crianças, nenhum inverteu com sucesso a concentração crescente da obesidade infantil entre os mais pobres e desfavorecidos. Este comentário pretende rever a evidência existente quer ao nível dos padrões, quer das causas da distribuição desigual da obesidade nas crianças em países desenvolvidos, e analisa as implicações para o desenvolvimento das intervenções com vista à redução dessas desigualdades.ABSTRACT - Inequalities in child obesity within and among nations result from unequal distribution of resources and environments that prevent unhealthy weight gain—healthy food, opportunities for physical activity, primary and preventive health care, and protection from stressors. While some developed nations have recently slowed the increase in child obesity, none has successfully reversed the growing concentration of child obesity among the poor and disadvantaged. This commentary reviews the evidence on patterns and causes of unequal distribution of child obesity in developed nations and analyzes the implications for the development of interventions to reduce these inequalities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nowhere to go: How stigma limits the options of female drug users after release from jail

Background Drug and alcohol using women leaving prison or jail face many challenges to successful re-integration in the community and are severely hampered in their efforts by the stigma of drug or alcohol use compounded by the stigma of incarceration. Methods This qualitative study is based on individual semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 17 women who had recently left jail about the challenges they faced on reentry. Results Our analysis identified three major themes, which are related by the overarching influence of stigma: survival (jobs and housing), access to treatment services, and family and community reintegration. Conclusion Stigma based on drug use and incarceration works to increase the needs of women for health and social services and at the same time, restricts their access to these services. These specific forms of stigma may amplify gender and race-based stigma. Punitive drug and social policies related to employment, housing, education, welfare, and mental health and substance abuse treatment make it extremely difficult for women to succeed

Reframing School Dropout as a Public Health Issue

Good education predicts good health, and disparities in health and in educational achievement are closely linked. Despite these connections, public health professionals rarely make reducing the number of students who drop out of school a priority, although nearly one-third of all students in the United States and half of black, Latino, and American Indian students do not graduate from high school on time. In this article, we summarize knowledge on the health benefits of high school graduation and discuss the pathways by which graduating from high school contributes to good health. We examine strategies for reducing school dropout rates with a focus on interventions that improve school completion rates by improving students' health. Finally, we recommend actions health professionals can take to reframe the school dropout rate as a public health issue and to improve school completion rates in the United States

Sex partnerships, health, and social risks of young men leaving jail: analyzing data from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Young men involved in the criminal justice system face disproportionately high rates of sexual risk behavior, drug, use, and violence. Little is known about how their involvement in sex partnerships might mitigate their unique health and social risks. This study explores whether sex partner experience protects against harmful sexual behaviors, drug problems, violence, and recidivism in 16-18-year-old Black and Latino men leaving a US jail. Methods Data were drawn from the Returning Educated African-American and Latino Men to Enriched Neighborhoods (REAL MEN) study conducted between 2003-2007, which tracked 552 adolescents during their time in a New York City jail and 397 of them one year after their release. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between sex partner experience and sex behavior, drug use, violence, and recidivism. Results This study indicates that young men who have long-term sex partners prior to incarceration are less likely to be inconsistent condom users (OR = 0.50, p ≤ 0.01), have sex while high on drugs/alcohol (OR = 0.14, p ≤ 0.001), use marijuana daily (OR = 0.45, p ≤ 0.001), and carry weapons during illegal activity (OR = 0.58, p ≤ 0.05), especially compared with peers who simultaneously are involved with long-term and casual "short-term" sex partners. However, the positive effects of having a long-term sex partner generally do not apply over time - in this case, one year after being released from jail. Aside from sexual partners, factors such as employment and housing stability predict whether these young men will experience positive or negative outcomes post-incarceration. Conclusions This study highlights the importance and potential benefits of health interventions that engage young Black and Latino men who are involved in the criminal justice system in the US, as well as their sex partners, in health promotion programs. The study also confirms the need for programs that address the employment and housing needs of young men after they leave correctional facilities.Peer Reviewe